Shuttlecock machine



Oct. 19, 1943. w, E. HUMPHREY 2,331,931

SHUTTLEGOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY 7 ,4 47, M M/MAAX ATTORNEYS Och 1943. w. E. HUMPHREY 2,331,981

SHUTTIJECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 g ATroRNEYs Oct. 19, 1943. w. E. HUMPHREY SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR {Ham v 6- 7*1aMA/1 ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1943. w. E. HUMPHREY SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 SheetsSheet 4 ATTORNEYS Oct- 19, 1943- w. E. HUMPHREY SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q6/0961 u s,

E k E EA ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1943.

W. E. HUMPHREY SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 /1 22;? 1? WWI/W ATTQRN EYS Oct. 19, 1943. w, E. HUMPHREY 2,331,931

SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR Mm 6" MW BY 6% fimdw Man/z MM! ATTORNEYS 1943- w. E. HUMPHREY SHUTTLECUCK MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR zz/m 6* ru/d vdzdzn/ ATTORNEYS Patented Get. 19, 1943 SHUTTLECOCK MACHINE Walter E. Humphrey. Jeannette, Pa., assignor to Pennsylvania Rubber Company, Jeannette. Pa", a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 8, 1942, Serial No. 426,022

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of badminton shuttlecocks, commonly called birds. Such a shuttlecock or bird consists of a head and a vane. The head is of approximately cylindrical form, rounded at one end to substantially spherical curvature; it is approximately an inch long and an inch and a quarter in diameter; it is commonly formed of cork encased in leather (kid). The vane commonly consists of feathers set in conical assembly, symmetrical with respect to the axis of the cylindrical head, set in a circular succession of holes sunk obliquely in the rear face of the head and near the periphery of that circular rear face. when the feathers have been set they are re-enforced and secured in assembled position by rows of stitching; and, finally, the rear face of the head and the stitched-together shanks of the planted feathers are coated with an integrating lacquer. In Letters Patent No. 2,262,045, granted November 11, 1941, on the application of D. H. Pollitt, now held in common ownership with the invention of this application, a process is described of applying to the assembled shuttlecock the lacquer coating. In that patent the planted feathers that constitute the vane are shown to be stitched together, in that case with two rows of stitching. The present invention consists in machinery for sinking holes in the head, and planting and stitching together the feathers that make up the vane. The objects of the invention are accuracy, speed, and economy.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a genera] and somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of the machine of the invention. Fig. II is a view in end elevation and in vertical section, on the plane indicated at IIII, Fig. I. Figs. III and IV are fragmentary views in vertical section, on the planes III-III and IV--IV of Fig. 11. Figs. V and VI are fragmentary views in vertical section, approximately on the plane V-V, Fig. I (minor departure, in Fig. V, from that .plane will become clear in the course of description). The two figures, V and VI, show certain moving parts in successive positions of operation. Fig. We is a fragmentary view, showing in side elevation certain cooperating parts in organized position at a particular instant in the course of operation. Fig. VII is a view in horizontal section, on the plane VIIVII, Fig. I. Fig. VIII is a view in vertical section, also on the plane VV, Fig. Lshowing additional machine parts, omitted from Figs. V and VI. Fig. D! is a fragmentary view, corresponding to Fig. VIII, but showing certain moving parts in alternate positions of operation. Fig. X is a view to larger scale, showing in axial section a machine part which in Figs. VIII and IX appears in elevation. Figs. XI, XII, XIII, and XIV, are fragmentary views to larger scale, and in horizontal section, on the plane indicated at XI-XI, Fig. VIII, showing certain movable parts in successive positions of operation. Figs. XV and XVI are views in vertical section, on the planes XV-XV and XVI-XVI, Fig. XI. Fig. XVII is a view in horizontal section, beneath the bed-plate oi the machine, and approximately on the plane XVII-XVII, Fig. I. Fig. XVIII is a view in vertical section, on the plane XVIII-XVIII, Fig. XVII. Figs. XIX, XX, and XXI are fragmentary views in vertical section on approximately the same plane with Fig. XVIII, but to smaller scale, illustrating successive positions of certain of the parts shown in Fig. XVIII. Fig. XXII is a view partly in elevation and partly in axial section of the shuttlecock or bird, the assembly of whose parts is effected in the operation of the machine of this invention.

Referring, first, to Fig. XXII, the shuttlecock or bird consists of a head i and of a vane composed of feathers. The feathers in conventional manufacture are goose feathers, carefully selected and trimmed to substantial identity. Each feather consists of a shaft 3, bare below and pointed at its lower end, and bearing in its upper portion a web (to which the numeral 2 is immediately applied) that extends symmetrically from its opposite sides. The head I of cork, encased in kid is penetrated through its rear face with holes in which the feathers are set; and it will be observed that the holes are sunk obliquely to the axis of the cylindrical head, so that the assembled feathers, conforming approximately to a conical surface, form an outwardly and rearwardly flaring vane for the shuttlecock.

Referring to Fig. X, a spindle 4 is shown to be rotatably mounted in a bearing-block 5 that is rigidly mounted upon (cf. Fig. 11) the bed-plate i of the machine. The bed-plate extends horirontally, and the bearing-block carries the spindle in obliquely inclined position. The angle at which the spindle is inclined to the vertical is the angle at which the feathers of the vane diverge from the vertical, as seen in Fig. XXII. The spindle l carries removably a chuck I, recessed to receive with snug fit the head I of a shuttlecock, and when the chuck is in place in the spindle the chuck-carried shuttlecock head will be in position coaxial with the spindle. The Pln-and-socket union shown in Fig. X between chuck and spindle insures precision of position of the chuck upon the spindle, and rotation of the assembled parts as a unit.

Fig. I shows the bed-plate 6 of the machine to carry, spaced apart at a suitable interval, two bearing-blocks I, in each of which is rotatably mounted a spindle I; and, as here shown, each spindle has mounted in place upon it a chuck 1. While one chuck will suilice for the performance of the invention, a plurality of them will, a! a matter of convenience and expedition, ordinarily be provided. The chuck with a shuttlecock head in place within it becomes a unit, applicable to and removable from the two spindles 4 successively. The two spindles are equipped each with a member 3 of a bevel-gear drive, and companion and complementary members 3 are borne by a shaft I0. It is manifest that by the pin-andsocket connection between chuck and spindle, a chuck I removed from one spindle may be applied to the other with precision of placement in the matter of angular position with respect to the axis of turning; and that, by duplication in dimension of the two bevel-gear drives, the turning of shaft iii will effect simultaneous turning of the two spindles through equal ranges.

A block Ii guided between ways I2 is reciprocable upon the bed-plate 6; and means for effecting reciprocation through a predetermined range, and in co-ordination with the movements of other parts of the machine, are in Fig. II shown in the form of a. fluid pressure cylinder II, with the stem ll of whose piston the block II is rigidly connected. On the block H a motor i5 is mounted, and the parts are so positioned that, in the reciprocation of block H, the motor is brought to position directly above the spindle 5 on the right (Fig. I) and withdrawn from such position. In the block II a vertically extending slideway is formed, and in this slideway a slide I6 is reciprocable (Fig. III). From slide it extends an arm II that carries rotatably a drill l8. The drill is aligned with the driven shaft of motor l5 and is connected with the motor shaft by an extensible connection. The movement of the slide I6 in its slideway is controlled by a cam l9 borne by a shaft 23 that engages the lower end of the slide, and the cam l9 shifts the slide downward against the resistance of a spring 2|. The rotation of the cam I9 is co-ordinated with the operation of other machine parts, as hereinafter will appear.

The parts are so organized that, when a shuttlecock head has been set in a chuck I and the chuck mounted on the spindle I to the right (Fig. I), the advance of the block H from right to left (Fig. II) will bring the drill l3 precisely to position for drilling in the seated head a hole for a feather. When this advance has been effected the turning of cam l9 effects the descent of the drill Iii (which, it will be understood, driven by motor I5, is in rotation) and the drilling of the desired hole in the shuttlecock head. Furthermore, block ll continuing in the advanced position shown in Fig. II, and the turning of shaft Ill being rendered intermittent and the'range of turning being controlled, and cam operation being brought into co-ordination with spindle turning, it is manifest that as machine operation continues a succession of holes properly spaced and in circumferential succession may be drilled in the seated shuttlecock head. When this has been done, co-ordinated operation of cylinder I! will eifect the retraction of block ii. The chuck that carries the shuttlecock head, now

assaasi drilled with the holes for the feathers, may then be raised manually from the spindle I to the right (Fig. I) and mounted on the spindle to the left. And it will be particularly remarked that, in con- 6 sequence of the pin-and-socket union of chuck to spindle, the previously drilled holes in the head do not come to place at haphazard, but in definite space relationship to other machine parts, and, more particularly, to those machine 10 Darts next to be described.

Adjacent the spindle l to the left (Fig. I) the table 6 carries a slideway 22 in which a slide 23 is vertically reciprocable (of. Figs. V, VI, VII and VIII). Reciprocation of slide 23 is effected by the rotation of a shaft 2| made effective through a crank-disk 25 and a. link 28. The slide 23 carries a clamp which as the slide reciprocates closes and opens, to grasp a feather, to plant it in a previously drilled hole in the head, and to release the planted feather that the cycle of operation may progress.

The clamp consists of two members, one of which, the member 21, is rigidly carried upon posts 29 by the slide 23, and the other, the memher 28, is pivotally borne by member 21 on the pin 3|). The pivoted member 23 of the clamp is extended, so that it becomes a lever of the first kind; and the rigidly borne member 21 and the pivoted member 23 together cooperate, clos- 3n ing and opening with the movement of a pair of scissors. A spring 3| tends constantly to open the clamp. Closing (against the tension of spring 3|) is effected by a lever 22 which is intermittently swung counterclockwise (Figs. V, VI, and VIII) in its pivot bearing 33 by the advance of a cam 34 borne by the turning shaft 20. The more detailed structure of the lever 32 will be understood on comparing Figs. 1, VII and VIII. A spindle 36 is rotatable in the bearing 33; with 40 this spindle, at one end, the lever arm that bears the numeral 32 is integrally united: and with it at the other end the work-arm 31 of the clampcontrolling lever is integrally united; (though with provision for adjustment, as the drawings 4.. show).

The operation of the several moving parts of the machine is a step-by-step operation, and, as will presently appear, the intermittent movement of each part is co-ordinated with the movements of the other parts. Referring to Fig. VIII, it will be understood that the crank-disk 25 is at the moment at rest, with the slide-borne clamp 21, 28 in position to be opened for the reception of a feather. While the clamp is at rest in such position, the turning shaft 23 carries the cam 34 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. VIII into the position shown in Fig. V, and in consequence the lever 32 swings clockwise (under gravity), and the clamp, released to the effect of spring 3 l, opens. Rotation of the cam 34 continuing from the position shown in Fig. V to that .shown in Fig. VII, the lever is swung counterclockwise, closing the clamp again. As the clamp closes, the crank-disk 23 is set in clockwise rotation, raising the slide 23 to its upper limit (cf. the

full-line position in Fig. VI), and eifecting its descent (that is to say, through the position shown in Fig. V) to the position shown in broken lines 210, 23a in Fig. VI. As, however, the slideborne clamp approaches its lower limit (the broken-line position of Fig. VI) the lever arm of the clamping member 23, descending, passes beyond the restraint of lever 32, whereupon the spring 3! becomes effective to open the clamp,

while the lever 82 (from which the clamp has escaped) continues in clamp-closing position.

The engagement of the lever 82, 81 with the clamping member 28 is not immediate, but is effected through a T-shaped block 88 that is pivoted by one extremity of its cross-arm to the lever arm 81, and that bears by the opposite extremity of its cross-arm (Fig. V) upon the leverarm extension of clamping member 28. The stem of the T-shaped block, by abutment upon the lever arm 81, limits the counter-clockwise turning of the block under gravity. A stop 31a, borne by and extending from lever arm 81, limits the clockwise turning of block 88 and prevents it from swinging too far under the momentum of operation. When, in the descent of slide 23, the lever-arm extension of clamping member 28 has passed below the abutment of block 38 upon it, the spring 8| is effective to open the clamp, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. VI. When in con-- tinued operation the clamping member rises again, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. VIa, the upper end 28b of the lever arm of clamping member 28 beers from beneath upon the cross-arm of the T-shaped block and turns the block clockwise. In the continued rise of the slide 23 the engagement of the ascending end of the pivoted clamp member 28 with the then upwardly inclined nether edge of the crossarm operates to swing clamp member 28 into clamp-closing position. Note in Fig. VIII the position of the block 88 and of the clamp.

The ordered opening and closing of the clamp 21, 28 is related both to means for sustaining the feather in position to be taken by the clamp, and to means for bringing a shuttlecock head to position for the reception of a feather.

As shown in Figs. I and VII, a standard 88 is borne upon the table 8 and is reciprocable between ways 48. The standard affords a seat in which a feather may be set, point down, and a seat that will allow the ready removal of the feather. Conveniently, the standard carries a clip in the form of two fingers 4i and 42 that extend from its upper end and in the direction of reciprocation. One finger (4!) is integrally home by the standard; the other (42) is pivoted at its basal end to the standard, and at its distal end is advantageously provided with a vertically extending notch 43, adequate to accommodate with snug though not tight fit the shaft of a feather. The pivoted finger is, by a light spring 44, held closed upon the rigid finger. In the orifice formed by the notch 43 in the finger 42 and the opposed plane face of finger 4i the feathers one by one are manually set, vertically from above. Figs. I and VII show the parts in position for inserting a feather. This is done, and in Fig. VII the shaft lot a feather is indicated in place between the fingers. Fig. I clearly shows the feather in place, engaged at its tip, while throughout the greater part of its extent it stands free above the holding fingers.

A feather is so placed, and thereafter, in the ordered operation of the machine, the standard 88 advances in right-to-left traverse, as indicated in Fig. VII by an arrow, and in so doing brings the feather that it bears into position between the clamping members 21, 28, which at that moment stand open and apart. Closing of the clamp 21, 28 follows. Already it has been explained that after the closing of the clamping members the slide that carries them rises, and in this rise of the slide 23, the feather, nlow clamped between members 21, 28, is raised from its seat between fingers ll, 42. Thereupon, the standard 28 recedes, leaving the way clear for the descent of the slide and its burden.

Reciprocation is given to standard 88 by the oscillation of a shaft 48 (Fig. XVIII) The shaft 4! beers integrally two arms 48 and 41 (cf. Fig. I) A spring 48, acting upon arm 41, maintains the arm 48 in bearing abutment upon a cam disk 48 borne by shaft 28. As the cam disk turns the standard 88 reciprocates: and by organization of the instrumentalities described the reciprocation of the standard is synchronized with the reciprocation of slide 28 and the opening and closing of the clamp 21, 28.

The spindle 4 to the left (Fig. I) is so organized that when a chuck 1 bearing a shuttlecock head i after placement upon the spindle 4 to the right and after the formation in the head of a circular succession of drill-holes, is removed from the spindle to the right and mounted upon the spindle to the left, one of the drill-holes of the succession will be positioned precisely and exactly beneath a feather when held in position by the clamping members 21, 28; the turning of the shaft i8 is an intermittent, step-by-step turning, and the range of turning at each step is precisely that required to shift the head, whether borne by the spindle to the right (that a succession of holes may be drilled in it) or by the spindle to the left (that a succession of feathers may be set in the previously drilled holes) through the angular interval between successive featherreceiving holes in the head. And in the intervals of rest, between the successive steps of turning of shaft Ill, the instrumentalities already described act, to set the feathers in the head. In sequence upon the advance of the chuck-borne head to a position in which an unfilled hole is in alignment with a feather held in the clamp 21, 28, the turning of the crank-disk 25 carries slide 28 downward, and drives the clamped feather point first into the hole, thus planting the feather in the head. It will be understood that the attendant who initially places the feathers one by one between the fingers 4|, L2

orients them to substantially correct position, and that the clamping members 21, 28 have faces so shaped as to bring the feather precisely to properly oriented position, so that the web of the planted feather extends in precisely the desired planar position relatively to the cylindrical head of the shuttlecock.

When a feather has been planted, the head bearing the planted feather turns through a small angle, sufficient to bring the next succeeding hole of the series to position to receive the next feather; but, before the feather-planting slide 23 descends again, other instrumentalities operate, to carry forward the gradual stitching together of the feathers assembled in the head. Referring to Fig. XIHI, three rows 300 of stitching (the number of rows is not essential; the number three, here shown, is exemplary) are shown, encircling the shafts 3 of the assembled feathers. Each row consists of two strands of thread that pass, one on each side of each feather, and that are twisted together in the intervals between the shafts of succeeding feathers.

Referring to Fig. VIII, three identical twisters 50 are shown in vertical stand adjacent the spindle 4 (the spindle to the left, Fig. I) and on the side that affords immediate access to the vertically standing feather, newly set by the latest descent of slide 28. The relative positions in plan are sumciently indicated in Fig. XI. (Figs. XI-

31V are views in horizontal section. In these views the head of the shuttlecock is, for simpliclty, shown in plan, as though its upper surface lay in horizontal plane. That surface extends in a plane that is inclined to the horizontal, as is indicated in Fig. VIII. In this particular Figs, XI-XIV will be understood to be dimammatic, and the showing will not be misleading). The three twisters are rotatably mounted in a bearing block M (Fig. am; they are severally equipped with gear-wheels 52; the gear-wheels are of equal size and in the assembly are intermeshed, and the whole assembly is driven through a gear-wheel I3 which, borne by a shaft 54, meshes with the lowermost of the gear wheels 52. Each twister carries a pair of needles II that extend from the end adjacent the work (the lefthand end, Figs. VIII, XI), and the needles of each pair are spaced apart and on opposite sides of the twister and remote from the axis of twister rotation. The two needles of each pair are unequal in length (as best seen in Figs. xn -xrv) and each near its free end is provided with an eye. The twister is axially perforate, as appears in Fig. XI.

The shaft 54 is further equipped with a pinion 58, and pinion i6 is on opposite sides engaged by two racks 51 that extend vertically in parallelism and are reciprocable vertically in passageways provided for them in the body of the bearing block 5|. As one or the other of the two racks 51 is impelled powerfully upward the twisters are rotated, each in one direction or the other, while the inactive rack moves idly downward.

The bearing block II also reciprocates in a slideway 58 upon the bed-plate I in right-andleft traverse, as seen in Fig. VI1Ithat is to say, toward and away from the work.

On the side of the spindle l (the spindle to the left. Fig. I) opposite the stand of twisters 50 a yielding anchorage OI for thread is provided. From a suitable source of supply pairs of strands of thread 3M are carried from right to left (Fig. XI) through the axial bores of the twisters, and the threads are severally passed through the eyes of the needles SI. The pairs of threads pus thence over the face of the seated shuttlecock head I, and are secured to the anchorage 89. The threads then are drawn taut.

A twister in successive positions of operation is illustrated in Figs. XI--HV; and, since all are alike in structure and in operation, the showing of one serves for all. Beginning with Fig. XI, the bearing block 5| will be understood to stand in advanced position, the position of nearest approach to the work. The organization is such that, when the bearing block is in this advaneed position, the two needles borne by each twister fill lie in horizontal plane, the longer extending diametrically above the seated shuttlecock head, and the shorter extending tangentially with respect to the shuttlecock head, or approximately so, and overlying the head near the rim. (The three pairs of needles will be understood to be disposed in three planes at different heights above the seated head.) In vertical line between the needles of the three pairs 9. drilled hole I lies exposed. In this so exposed hole a feather 3 is, by the action of slide 23, planted. The bearing block then recedes (left to right, Figs. VIII, XI) and the parts assume the relative positions shown in Fig. XII. One of the racks 51 then is driven upward, setting the twisters in rotation, and forming a twist in each of the pair of threads Illi, as seen in Fig. XIII. The shaft Ill then turns and carries the shuttlecock head i through one step of turning and brings a new drill-hole lili to position to receive a feather. The bearing block II then advances again to the position shown in Fig. XI. Thus the cycle of twister operation is repeated, with a single qualification: the successive turnings of the twisters are efl'ected alternately by one and the other of the two racks 51. In consequence, the successive twistlngs are in opposite directions, and the cumulative eifect at the thread-supply end of the twisters, that unidirectional turning would bring about, is avoided. When the last feather has been planted and the twister withdrawn to the Fig. XII position, the pairs of threads are removed from the anchorage 99 and out free from the twisters, and the ends are tied together, pair by pair.

The bearing block ii is normally held by a spring 98 at the remote end of its range of reciprocation upon the bed-plate 8. Such is the position shown in Figs. IX, XII XIV. From remote position it is intermittently advanced to the position shown in Figs. VIII and XI. This is effected by the rotation of shaft 20, and the intermediation of the cam disk 59 and the lever 60. The racks 51 are impelled upwardly and in alternation by the rotation of the same shaft 20, through the lntermediation of the cam disks GI and 62 and the levers B3 and 64. Consideration of Figs. VIII, XV, and XVI will show that, while cam 82 having engaged lever 64 has driven one of the racks 51 upward, the release of the lever 63 from engagement by the corresponding cam it has allowed the companion rack 51 to descend idly, in response to the rotation of pinion 56 with which the two racks are constantly meshed.

Referring particularly to Figs. XVII-XXI, a motor 85, through a gear-reduction 68, shaft 81, and sprocket drive 68, drives constantly the wheel 69, which is idly mounted upon shaft 24. The sprocket-chain-drlven wheel 89 is the common member of two friction clutches. The driven member III of one of these clutches is integrally mounted upon shaft 24, so that through this friction clutch the shaft 24 is rotated; and the driven member H of the other of these friction clutches, through appropriate gear transmission I2, drives shaft 20. A spring T3 of adjustable tension gives eiiicacy to the friction clutches.

Rotation of shaft 20 imparts step-by-step turning of shaft HI through the narrow angular range at which the holes are drilled in circular succession in the shuttlecock head. The means for accomplishing this are found in the dogs 14 (in this instance two in number, of. Fig. VIII) borne by shaft 20, which as shaft 20 turns makes successive periodic engagement with the ratchet disk 15 borne rigidly by shaft H.

To the end that the several operations of the machine shall be effected in proper coordination, a system of latches is arranged to release the shafts 20 and M to the torque of the rotating clutch member Bil in ordered sequence. A latch 18, engaging a tooth 10a upon the periphery of the clutch-disk Ill, is effective to hold shaft 24 from turning; and two latches are alternately effective to hold shaft 20 from turningone latch, 18, engaging the teeth "a upon a disk H on shaft 20, and the other latch, 19, engagil'lg the teeth a. upon disk 80 integrally borne by shaft 20. A solenoid 85 when energized swings latch 10 to release position. A sleeve 8|, with toothed periphery, integrally borne by shaft 20, is effective as shaft 20 turns, to engage a lever 82 and shift latch II into release position; a sleeve 83, with toothed periphery, integrally borne by shaft 24, is effective as shaft 24 turns to engage a lever 24 and shift latch I into release position. In service the motor 85 drives the disk 69 continuously, and the several latches are in ordered sequence actuated to release the shafts 2|! and 24 to the driving torque of the member 89, and then to arrest them again.

It will be understood that the latches l6 and 18 extend in the shaft-arresting positions shown in Fig. XVIII, until it is desired to begin a. shuttlecock-assembling operation. To start the operation a pedal switch (not shown) is pressed and the solenoid B5 is energized. Thereupon the latch I6 swings counter-clockwise, disengaging the tooth 11a and releasing the disk 11. The shaft 2|! is released to the torque of member 69 and begins to turn. At the instant the rotation of the shaft 2|) is thus initiated, the twister block 5| is in the position shown in Fig. IX.

Immediately after the shaft 20 begins to rotate the cams 6|, 52 effect (through the swing of arms 63, 64) the rise of one rack 51 and the descent of the other, with the effect that the three sets of needles are rotated, forming a twist in each of the three pairs of threads extending from the stem of the feather that preparatory to the operation has been planted in the shuttlecock head. (Compare the positions of the threads Figs. X11 and XIII.) Next, in the successive operations of the machine, one of the dogs I4 on the rotating shaft 2|! engages the ratchet-wheel I5, turning the shuttlecock head, and bringing a drill-hole into position of vertical alignment with the clamp 21, 28 (cf. the hole lfll in Fig. XIV). Then the cam 59, turning with the shaft an, swings the lever 60 and advances the twister block to the position in which the paired threads are spread (Fig. XI) to allow the stem of the feather that is next to be planted in the head to descend between them.

While these operations are in progress, the following movements are effected in ordered succession: The lever 32, 21 swings clockwise, and under the stress of spring 2| the clamp 21, 28 opens (Fig. V) then the slide 29 shifts in rightto-left direction (Fig. I), carrying a feather that has been manually inserted between the fingers 4|, 42, into position between the opened clamp members. Then the lever 22, 21 swings counterclockwise, closing the clamp upon the feather. As this stage in the operation is reached, the tooth 8|a on the turning sleeve 8| (Fig. XVIII) engages and swings lever 82, lifting the latch 18 (Fig. XIX) and releasing shaft 24 to the torque of friction clutch B9, thereupon the shaft 24 is set in rotation, and the crank-disk 25 on such shaft, acting through link 28, raises the slide 23, and lifts the clamped feather from the fingers 4|, 42; then, through the operation of instrumentalities above described, the fingers recede; and the slide 23, passing its upper limit, moves downward, planting the feather in the shuttlecock head. As the clamp reaches its lower limit 'of travel, the arm of clamp member 28 passes below the arm of the T-shaped block 38, and the clamp opens (cf. broken-line position in Fig. VI), while the tooth 800 on disk Ill comes to abutment upon the latch N! (Fig. XX), bringing the shaft 20 to r 2st, with the effect that the bearing block ti and the twisters are arrested in re r t p slum (Figs, 11! and XIV). The rotation of the crank-disk 25 continues, and carries the open clamp upward and away from the planted feather, and as the disk 25 approaches the end of a complete rotation, and the rising clamp moves pward from the path of the twister needles, the tooth 83a on the sleeve 83 en ages d swings the lever 84, thereby raising the latch 19 and once again releasing the shaft 20 to rotative stress. The shaft 20 turns through a small angular ra e, and is arrested by the abutment upon latch 15 of tooth 11b of the disk 11. The rotating shaft 24 is simultaneously arrested (with the clampbearing slide 23 returned to initial position), by the abutment upon latch l8 of tooth 10a of the disk 10. In such rotation of the shaft 20 through the small angular range, the bearing block 5| recedes from the shuttlecock head, to the position shown in Figs. IX and X11, and the threads are drawn taut against the stem of the planted feather, and in such position they are ready to be twisted. Such is the cycle of the feather-assembling operations, in which the shaft 20 has turned through 180 and the shaft 24 through 360.

From what has been said earlier, it will be understood that in the rotation of the shaft 20 through 180 the drill I8 is through the instrumentalities of the cam l9 and the spring 2| moved downward through a hole-forming stroke and raised again.

In repeating the cycle of operations described, as the cycle must be repeated for each feather that goes into the vane of the shuttlecock, the solenoid 85 is again energized. Again the latch 16 is released; the shaft 2|) rotates; the needles 55 twist the paired threads 3M (Fig. XIII); the bearing block 5| advances to the position shown in Fig. K1; the feather is introduced to the clamp; and so on.

While the operation of the machine is arrested at the end of each cycle, as described, it will be understood that, alternatively, the solenoid may be continuously energized (the pedal switch may be held in circuit-closing position), and the cycles repeated without intermission; that is, after the first feather has been planted, and the otherwise free ends of threads 3M have been fastened to the member 89, the operation may be continuous.

It is noteworthy that the machine is readily adapted to the assembly of vanes having a greater or less number of feathers than here illustrated. It is simply necessary to apply to the shaft ID a ratchet-wheel 15 whose teeth correspond in number to the feathers in the vane to be assembled. All of the several operations of the machine-the drilling of the holes in the shuttlecock head, and the planting and stitching of the feathersare without other provision or adjustment properly coordinated.

Recurring finally to the fluid pressure cylinder I3 by which the block II is reciprocated, it is manifest that a control valve may be provided which, subject to the rotation of shaft II), will effect the recession of the block I I when a shuttlecock head borne by the spindle to the right (Fig. I) has received its complement of drilled holes. Such elaboration, however, is hardly necessary, since an attendant can readily at proper time shift such control valve to cause the block II at proper time to recede and allow the removal of a completely drilled head, and to advance again when a fresh and undrilled head has been set in place.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for building shuttlecocks two spindles rotatably mounted in suitable support, means for eifecting simultaneous turning of the two spindles through equal angular ranges, each spindle being adapted to receive and carry a shuttlecock head, means for sinking a hole in a shuttleoock head carried by one of said spindles, and means for planting a feather in a hole sunk in a shuttlecock head carried by the other of said spindles.

2. The structure of claim 1, the hole-sinking means including a drill reciprocable in synchronism with spindle rotation, and the featherplanting means including a clamp reciprocable in synchronism with spindle rotation.

3. In a machine for building shuttlecockg two spindles rotatably mounted in suitable support, means for effecting simultaneous turning 01' the two spindles through equal angular ranges, a chuck adapted to receive a shuttlecock head and applicable to either of the two spindles with the axis of the shuttlecock head aligned with the axis oi spindle rotation and in predetermined positions within the range of turning of the seated shuttlecock head upon such axis, means for sinking a hole in a shuttlecock head when applied to one of said spindles, and means for planting a feather in a hole sunk in a shuttlecock head when applied to the other of said spindles.

4. In a shuttlecock-building machine, and in combination with a seat for a shuttlecock head, a feather-planter including ways, a slide reeiprocable in said ways, a clamp borne by said slide, yielding means for maintaining the clamp in normally open position, a clamp-closing lever, a T-shaped block pivoted by one arm to said lever and limited in pivotal movement in one direction by abutment of the stem oi the T upon the lever, the clamp throughout a portion of its range reciprocation being engaged by the free arm of the T-shaped block and in further traverse passing beyond such engagement and abutting upon the stem of the T-shaped block and the clamp in it return reciprocation engaging from beneath the free arm of the T-shaped block, and means for eflecting coordinated reciprocation 01' said slide and swing of said lever.

5. In a shuttlecock-building machine the combination of a support, a spindle rotatably mounted in the support, means for imparting to the spindle intermittent, step-by-step turning, reeiprocable feather-planting means arranged adjacentto said spindle, a reciprocable and rotatable twister arranged adjacent to said spindle, and means for electing operation of the said parts in ordered sequence, as follows: (i) turning of the spindle, (2) forward reciprocation of the twister, (3) downward and upward reciprocation of the feather-planting means, (4) rearward reciprocation of the twister; and (5) rotation of the twister.

6. In shuttlecock-building machinery and in combination with a rotatable seat for a shuttlecock head, a twister for applying a stitching of thread to the shafts of a succession oi feathers set in a seated head, such twister including a support, an axially perforate rotatable cylindrical body axially reciprocable in said support, said body being provided with a plurality of eyed needles projecting longitudinally irom one head of the body and spaced apart relatively to the axis of rotation.

'7. In a shuttlecock-building machine the combination of a support, two spindles rotatably borne by said support, means for imparting to the spindles simultaneous and intermittent turning through successive predetermined and equal ranges, a seat for the head of a shuttlecock applicable to and removable from either of the two spindles in predetermined position with respect to the range of turning, means reciprocable above one of said spindles for sinking a hole in a seated shuttlecock head, means reciprocable above the other of said spindles for planting a feather in a hole sunk in a seated shuttiecock, the last-named means including a clamp and means for opening and closing the clamp in ordered sequence in the course of the reciprocation thereof, a leather carrier reciprocable to and from position of cooperation with said feather-planting means, and a rotatable thread-twister reciprocable in a plane above the face 01' a shuttlecock head seated in the second of said spindles, means for effecting reciprocation of the hole-sinking means during the period of rest of the spindles, and means for eflecting movement of the parts associated with the second of the two spindles during the period of rest of the spindles in ordered sequence, as follows: (1) advance of the feather carrier and of the thread twister, (2) closure of the clamp oi the feather planter, (3) rise of the feather planter, (4) recession of the feather carrier, (5) descent of the feather planter, (6) recession of the twister, (7) rotation of the twister, and (8) subsequent to (5) the rise of the feather-planter.

WALTER E. HUMPHREY. 

